NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Medicine Hat Force forward Kennedy Wilson fights off Calgary Storm defender Chelsea Holman during a game in the Ringette Alberta Open C provincial championship on Friday, March 22, 2019 at Hockey Hounds Arena.
Any athlete will tell you it’s about the journey, but when a season ends with a gold medal hung around your neck it’s also about the finish line.
An up-and-down season for the Medicine Hat Force ringette team ended on the highest of highs Sunday at Hockey Hounds Recreation Centre when they claimed a provincial open C championship on home ice.
The 4-3 win over Lethbridge Vegas was a bit of redemption, as the Highway 3 rivals had met up a few times this season with Lethbridge taking key wins.
Back in November, Vegas beat Force in Lethbridge. In January, a goal with 1:18 to play gave Vegas top spot at the CORA tournament in Calgary.
Things looked to be repeating themselves in the final until Kennedy Wilson scored twice in the last two minutes, including the game-winner with 11 seconds left on the clock.
It’s the second straight provincial open C title for Force, which also hosted last year’s tournament in Brooks.
After beating Sherwood Park (6-1), Cochrane (3-1) and Calgary Storm (4-0) in the round robin, Force edged the Rockyford Ringers 3-2 in Sunday morning’s semifinal. Vegas beat Storm 3-0, setting up the rivalry finale.
Amanda Carter had a pair of goals as Lethbridge held the advantage until Wilson’s heroics. Other Hat goals came from Amanda Beaudoin and Kellie Bowles.
The win culminates an impressive season for the top age group in Medicine Hat’s ringette association. The open B Smash won their provincial title earlier this month.
